Mon Aug 21 16:14:10 EAT 2017

Gen Katumba proposes military training for scouts

Gen Wamala (4th right, 3rd row) in a group photo with members of the Uganda Scouts Association and other stakeholders. Photo by Stephen Otage

By Stephen Otage

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Former Army Commander Gen. Katumba Wamala has said they are ready to engage the UPDF to equip boy scouts and girl guides with military skills in order to build a “cadre of patriotic Ugandans.”

Speaking at a breakfast meeting in Hotel Africana to raise funds for this year’s annual Scouts’ Camp scheduled to take place at the weekend at Kazi in Wakiso District, Gen. Wamala said it is important to equip scouts and girl guides with military skills because there are many positive values to pick from the military which they should learn at an early stage.

Gen. Wamala who is the State Minister for Works, is the chief commissioner of the Uganda Scouts Association.

“I am going to use my contacts to ensure that we popularise the Scouts Movement in the country and this would be a way of building for UPDF good soldiers at an early age,” he said.

Brig. Phinehas Katirima, the Director of Education in the UPDF who represented the army commander Gen David Muhoozi said introducing military skills to pupils at an early age is a good move because it creates a cadre of people who have love for the country to defend it from vices like corruption and external aggression.

“First of all, you learn to love yourself, you learn to help community and eventually the love for the country develops. We are ready to support the Uganda Scouts Association if they approach us,” he said.

Mr Richard Okello, the executive secretary Uganda Scouts Association said they have revamped the association with the creation of a new board to spearhead clear leadership of the Scouts Movement which is targeting to recruit five million members by 2025.

He explained that among the activities that the scouts will undertake during the school break is urban farming, nutrition, computer skills training and leadership skills among others.